Apparatus for reloading a winding machine arbor



Sept. 15, 1959 c. L. WELLINGTON APPARATUS FOR RELOADING A WINDING MACHINE ARBOR Filed March 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1959 Filed March 29, 1956 C; L. WELLINGTON ING MACHINE ARBOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 15, 1959 -c. 1.. WELLINGTON APPARATUS FOR RELOADING A WINDING MACHINE ARBOR Filed March 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 uigiilfiililillllii III United States Patent Condenser Machinery Crp., Englewood, N.J., a corporation at New York Application March 29, 1956, Serial No. 574,861

8 Claims. 01. 242-561 This invention relates to apparatus for the reloading of the arbor of a winding machine in which tape or other continuous material is fed to the arbor to be wound into packages. This application is a continuation-impart of application Serial No. 533,541, filed September 12,1955, now abandoned.

Numerous machines have been devised for winding tape into cylindrical packages using a rotating arbor to which the tape is affixed and onto which the tape is wound. Using such devices a single tape or a plurality of tapes may be drawn from supplies along tape paths to the arbor by the pull of the arbor. Where a plurality of tapes are employed, it is common to collect them, between a pair of rollers, for example, into a sandwich so that they follow substantially a single tape path to the arbor in order to assure a smooth, neat package. As described in my copending application, Serial No. 503,923, filed April 26, 1955, now Patent No. 2,851,226, I have devised a method for making completely automatically stripping and removal of a package from the arbor of a machine of the type described. However, using my invention, which leaves the arbor in a convenient position for reloading, or any other machine or method known to the art, to make each new tape package, it is necessary to reload the arbor by hand after the previously wound package has been severed from the continuous tape.

The present invention eliminates the need to use hands in reloading the arbor. Using the method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to sever the tape, complete a package and reload the arbor in order to start the second package without laying hands on' the tape, the reloading being done more quickly and accu-' rately than it could be done by hand.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, an extra length of tape is drawn from its supply and stored between some point proximate to the arbor and the arbor. The proximate point may be the rollers for gathering a plurality of tapes into a single tape path or any other point at which the structure supports the tape. After the extra length has been stored, the tape is cut at such a point that the distance between the arbor and the cut is smaller than the stored extra length of tape. Thereafter, the severed wound package is removed from the arbor, preferably by the automatic means described in my copending application mentioned above. Finally, the cut end of the tape is fed to the arbor and attached thereto.

As a practical matter, in order to practice the present invention, simple apparatus may be added to an existing winding machine probably necessitating the rearranging of the position of any existing cutter so that it will be positioned close to the arbor immediately adjacent to the modified tape path. Other than the cutter, the apparatus consists primarily of a device for pulling the tape in order to draw an extra length of tape from. thesource, the extra length being greater than the distance between the cutter and the arbor. In addition, a feeder must be employed to carry the cut end of the tape to the arbor, In most practical apparatus, the pulling device will=be a storage bar which deflects the tape from its normal tape path between the arbor and another fixed support point along the, length of the tape path in order to store the, extra length of tape; 1

The device of the-present invention may be made automatically or manually operated and, in either event, except for the drive device, the structure will be essentially the same. The-apparatus of the present invention'has the advantage that-it is simple and requires but a few easily constructed parts which may also be easily assem bled onto existing winding machines. Moreover, the principle of operation is so simple that no special skill isrequired of the operator. The mechanism is com pletely dependable and will continue to work accurately time after time, yet it does not require close tolerances step of .the reloading operation;

- as to deflect the tape sandwich 10 from its normal path and clearances, a factor which adds further to the ease ofits construction-and assembly.

For a better understanding of the presentinvention, a manually-operated apparatus embodying the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. l is a side elevational view partially broken away showing the essential elements of the winding machine and the apparatus of the present invention; i

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the, storage and cutting position of the apparatus of the present invention; v Fig. 3 is a plan view from above of the apparatus of the present invention in the position of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention in the position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view showingeifective elements of the present invention in the course of cutting to complete a package;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the stripping actionof the arbor; 1

Fig. 7 illustrates part of the apparatus of the present invention in reloading position and illustrates thefirst of the reloading operation; and v Fig. 9 is a side sectional view showing the mechanism of reloading the arbor.. I

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it will beobsenved that this embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is designed to wind a sandwich 10 of tapes 10 1, 1012, 10c, 10d, 102 which extends along a tape path to an arbor 11 into a cylindrical package Mix. The 2 1rb.or 11 is part of a winding machine generally designated l2 and rotates to form package 10x and draw the various tapes from their supplies. The arbor illustrated .is .a n axially split arbor having upper and lower portions 11d and 11b, respectively, which are designed to be separately, withdrawn axially from the winding position, as described in' my copending application, Serial No. 503,923,,fi1d April 26, 1955. p I v As the cylindrical package is wound, thetapes are drawn from their tape sources (not shown) over a sur face bounding and defining one end of a storage region, which is bounded at its other end by the arbor. The surface 13 is an idler roller which is part of a device to compress the plurality of tapes into sandwich .10 following a single tape path. A storage bar.14 which is,adapted to be moved between the surface 13 and thearborll so Fig. 8 illustrates in a perspective view the secondlst e p and hence draw from the supplies and store in the region between the surface 13 and the arbor 11 an extra length of tape. The cutter 15 is arranged to cut the tape sand-J wich while assuming its modified path after stora'g'ehas, been completed at a distance from the arbor which 'is 3 smaller than the length of the extra amount of stored tape. After the tape has been cut, the package x on the arbor may be completed and stripped from the arbor and thesevered end of the tape will thereafter be fed by a feeder 16 to the arbor 11, as will hereafter be described.

In the apparatus illustrated, the idler roller 13 is supported between a pair of upright support brackets 18 and 19 which, in turn, are supported on base 20, which in this particular embodiment is also the base of the winding machine 12. Above the idler roller 13 is another idler roller 21 having its axis parallel to that of roller 13 and arranged to make tangential surface contact with roller 13. Roller 21 is journaled in short lever members 22 which, in turn, are journaled for rotation about dowel posts 23 mounted respectively in brackets 18 and 19. To avoid interference with the tape, the short levers 22 are mounted outside of the support brackets 18 and 19 so that, in order to permit the idler roller 21 to be journaled in these levers, large holes 24 are provided in both brackets. Spring means (not shown) are advantageously provided to urge the idler 21 into tangential contact with the idler '13 in order to compress the tapes passing therebetween into the sandwich 10 following substantially a single tape path between roller 13 and arbor 11.

An annular plate-like member 27 having a peripheral flange 26 is mounted on a cylindrical shoulder on the winding machine 12 to rotate about the axis of rotation of the arbor. Member 27 is supported between similar plate-like members 28 and 29 which are fixed to each other and to the winding machine. Plate 28 is fixed by bolting it to the Winding machine and plate 29, by fixing it, in turn, to plate 28 using a typing member 30, which also acts as a stop, as will hereafter appear. The peripheral flange 26 supports storage bar 14 in a position generally perpendicular to the member 27 and parallel to the arbor. Also projecting from the periphery of the generally circular member 27 is an actuating lever '31 to the end of which is attached a handle 32 whose axis is parallel to the axis of rotation of the arbor.

On still another peripheral projection 33 of member 27 is mounted a pair of pins 34 which, in turn, support a small plate 35 which mounts a stud member 36. The pins 34 are sturdy and provide a junction between plates 33 and 35 which is solid and essentially unyielding. Plate 35 is arranged so that stud 36 will project parallel to the axis of rotation of the arbor, its radius from the arbor being smaller than the radius of member 29. Stud 36 is arranged so that in rotation of plate 27 it will be brought to bear against a lever 37 journaled to rotate about pin 38 fixed in an upright bracket 39 which is supported on base 20. Pin 38 extends through bracket 39 to a second upright bracket 40 which parallels bracket 39 and is also fixed to the base 20. A cutter supporting member 41 is journaled to the rod 38 to rotate about it by a pair of ears 4111 on the knife supporting member 41 to the bottom of which is attached serrated cutter knife by any appropriate means. The storage bar 14 is provided with a V-shaped groove 42, one edge of which provides a cutting edge for the cutter knife 15. The cutter knife 15 is so located that when the storage bar 14 is in its storage position the cutter will be moved into it.

The feeder element 16 is advantageously a plate-like member which is arranged tangentially to the idler roller 13 and made to extend the length of the ordinary tape path, i.e. to beneath the winding arbor. Reference to Fig. 3 will indicate the general shape of feeder 16 which is provided with a pair of flanges 45 arranged generally perpendicular to its plane to support feeder 16 on the axle of idler 13 and permit its rotation about the same axis as idler 13. An extension arm 46 is necessary to join the main body of the feeder plate 16 to the flange 45 adjacent support member 18. The flange 45 at the side adjacent support 19 is provided with an extension 47 beyond the point of support at the idler roller and extending between this extension 47 and tab 49 on bracket 19 is a spring 48, to urge the feeder upward against the arbor.

The arbor itself, as described in my previously mentioned application, is able to be axially withdrawn from the winding position. Support member 51 is provided to hold the arbor in its proper position while winding and is connected between the tines 53a and 53b of bifurcated member 53 by pin 52. A wedge member 54 (as seen in Fig. 4) is used to limit the amount of relative rotation between members 53 and 51 about pin 52. An insert 55 in the top of support member 51 is provided with a conical inlet in order to direct the parts of the arbor together as they move into member 55. Member 55 is advantageously composed of some material providing a good bearing surface.

It will be observed that in Figs. 59, the schematic drawings show only one layer of tape instead of a sandwich. Although this has been done for clarity here it also serves to illustrate that the principle of winding and the application of the present invention is the same whether a single tape or a sandwich of a plurality of tapes is employed.

The nature of the winding operation will be understood by reference to my aforementioned application. In the course of the winding operation, the tapes are drawn between idlers 13 and 21 and thence together along a normal tape path to the winding arbor 11 which winds the tapes into a cylindrical package. When the size of the package is large enough, the handle 32 is pressed, rotating lever arm 31 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. This movement causes the storage bar 14 to move downward and depress out of its normal tape path the tape 10 so that, as shown in Fig. 2, an extra quantity of tape is drawn from the tape source and stored between the idler 13 and the arbor 11. The extra quantity is the difference in length between the idler 13 and the arbor when the tape is deflected by the storage bar and when it assumes its normal path. In the course of rotation, the stud 36 revolves into con tact with lever 37 which causes knife 15 to be revolved about pin 38 and into the position shown in Fig. 2. At the bottom of its stroke, the storage bar 14 will move against the cutter 15 so that the tape is out between the serrated edge of the cutter 15 and the edge of the V- shaped groove 41. A detailed View of the cutting of the tape is illustrated in Fig. 5. In order to prevent damage to the cutting edge of the knife, member 30 acts as a stop against which peripheral flange 33 abuts at the extreme position shown in Fig. 2 and against which lever 31 abuts in the extreme position shown in Fig. 1.

After the tape is severed, the tape package is completed by winding, and a piece of adhesive tape 57 is automatically or manually applied to the completed package to hold it together. Thereafter, the arbor part 11b is withdrawn to strip the tape package from the arbor and leave it loose on the arbor member 11a. Then arbor member 11a is withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 6, permitting the tape package 10x to drop into a box or other storage device. Handle 31 is rotated back into the position shown in Fig. l, in the course of which as the storage bar 14 rises, the feeder 16 may also rise into position against the arbor. Also as the lever 31 is moved back into position of Fig. l, the cutter shifts into position of Fig. 1 and the package 10a is able to drop between. feeder 16 and cutter 15 into its collection box. The feeder is urged upward into the arbor by the spring 43 and by the time it has reached this position, the arbor member 11:: is back in place and the tape 10 may be held against it by the feeder, as shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted that the end of the feeder beneath the arbor is thicker than the rest of the feeder and that a groove is milled therein. This groove is intended to accommodate part 11b of the arbor and when the condition shown in i Fig. 7 is achieved, the part 11b of the arbor may then be slid through the groove beneath the tape 10, as shown in Fig. 8, in order to grasp the severed end of tape 10. As arbor member 11b reaches bearing member 55, it will be forced against arbor member 11a so that the tape is snugly held between the two pieces. Thereafter, the winding may proceed as through the arbor had been loaded by hand. The presence of the feeder beneath the arbor will not be detrimental and it will be depressed against the action of its spring pressure 48 as the size of the tape package increases, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The machine illustrated is intended to be used for flat tapes and is mainly used for the purpose of winding condensers employing at least two insulator and two conductor flat tapes into a condenser.

Although the continuous tape in this particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated as a flat strip, it is possible in other applications to employ tapes of all sorts of dimensions including dimensions having circular cross sections, such as string, wire, etc. Where materials having circular square or like cross sections are employed, it may be desirable to wind in a slightly different Way, for example, by feeding the material to be Wound laterally, as well as lengthwise, in which case a traverse mechanism of some sort can be employed. The addition of necessary equipment to permit winding of various types of tape or other continuous material is a matter of choice or skill and Will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It should be observed, however, that the term tape herein is intended to include broadly all sorts of continuous materials.

Other modifications in the product to be wound and other modifications in the machine and method of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art and all such modifications within the scope of the claims are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for winding spiral packages of tape drawn from a tape supply comprising, a winding arbor having a fixed supporting bearing permitting rotation of the arbor, a fixed tape supporting member spaced laterally a substantially fixed distance from the arbor and providing a normal tape path extending directly between the supporting member and the arbor, tape deflecting storage means supported relative to the arbor and adapted to move between the supporting member and the arbor into contact with the tape therebetween to deflect said tape from its normal tape path into a cut-ofi position, and cut-off means so arranged that the tape is moved against the cut-01f means in cut-01f position to cut the tape at such a point that the length of tape Withdrawn from the supply is sutficiently long for direct attachment to the arbor without drawing more tape from the supply.

2. The winding machine of claim 1 in which the storage means is a storage bar generally parallel to the arbor and mounted for oscillatory movement only about the axis of rotation of the arbor.

3. The winding machine of claim 1 in which a feeder adapted to carry the cut end of the tape to the arbor is positioned below the tape path to receive the severed tape after cutting as it falls by gravity and lift it to the arbor.

4. The winding machine of claim 3 in which the feeder is a member rotatable about an axis spaced from and parallel to the arbor and spring urged into the arbor.

5. The winding machine of claim 4 in which the supporting member is rotatable and supports the feeder, the feeder has a tape supporting surface which lies below the arbor and the deflecting storage means is a storage bar which is adapted to move against the feeder in order to deflect it against its spring urging away from the arbor and which is oscillatory in its movement between rest and tape cutting positions.

6. The Winding machine of claim 1 in which the cut-off means includes a cutter knife rotatable into a cutting position beneath the arbor, and in which the storage means includes a storage bar which serves as an anvil for the cutter knife.

7. The winding machine of claim 6 in which the cutter knife is supported on a crank having a support about which the crank is rotatable fixed relative to the winding position of the arbor and means on the storage bar support structure adapted to contact the crank and move the knife in position against the storage bar.

8. The winding machine of claim 7 in which the storage bar support also carries a handle revolvable about the axis of rotation of the arbor by which the storage bar is moved to deflect the feeder and against the cutter knife.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,199,603 Ackley May 7, 1940 2,247,750 Dohnal July 1, 1941 2,272,940 Gerard Feb. 10, 1942 2,361,264 Christman Oct. 24, 1944 2,740,592 Larsen Apr. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,040,088 France May 20, 1953 

